About Similar Search

The Similar Search command is a search tool that can be used to search for objects depending on their pure shape criteria. Its main features are:

• Similar Search enables you to search for data based on 3D design aspect.
• Similar Search enables you to reduce the number of duplicated references in your database.
• Similar Search results are displayed with ranking information that indicates how strong the similarity is between a particular object and the reference shape.

The Input Geometry can be selected with any tool available in 3DLive: Tree selection, 3D selection or selection in the label view. This input geometry can be the sum of several 3D representations in the session.

The Similar Search results are a displayed in a view directly immersed in 3DLive. These results are displayed with a graphical ranking information which indicates how similar each object in the results is to the Input Geometry.

Similar Search can return results that have a relatively low similarity, but you will be warned by the ranking information.

Similar Search can potentially improve processes in following areas:

• Part Administration: reduce duplicate parts, classify parts on geometry criteria
• Design & Concept study: reuse previous design, find associated semantic data, remodel, identify and review alternatives
• Bidding process: part price estimation, project plan, 3D as media

You should take the following considerations into account:

• Similar Search requires that your data be indexed. Indexation is a snapshot of the data source at a given moment, you should regularly index your data source.
• Similar Search only supports V4 models having CGRs.
• Similar Search will only display those objects that you have the right to see conform to the defined Index Security.

Important: The current implementation of Similar Search does not exploit contextual information. Even if it can work with any type of reference data, it is not permissible to specialize the system to improve query results on customized data types or customized environments.